DIY Basement Makeover

For the past year or so, my parents’ basement has been sitting unfinished and collecting everyone’s stuff. So, my dad and I finally finished it! Even cooler, we partnered with Armstrong Ceilings to help make the basement come to life with a DIY basement makeover!

DIY Basement Makeover

Want to see this build in action? Check it out on my YouTube channel!

This post is sponsored by Armstrong Ceilings. For my full disclosure policy, click here.

Let’s get down to business! My dad and I started renovating the basement when they moved in last year, but we never finished.

This was my parents’ basement before:

It was dark, partially unfinished, and pretty sad…

and this is my parents’ basement now!

SO much better!

This renovation was a big one, so I’m spilling the beans on the steps we took to make it happen on my YouTube channel &  here on my blog. Let’s get started!

What We Used:

Tools & Materials

Ceiling

Armstrong Woodhaven Ceiling Planks
Easy-Up Track System
Easy-Up Clamps
Drill/Driver
Level
Miter Saw
Jig Saw

Drywalling

Mold-Resistant Drywall
Joint Compound
Drywall Tape
Sander/Sandpaper
Drywall Screws
Drill/Driver

Painting

Paint Rollers
Paint Brushes
Paint Tin
BEHR Paint (Melting Icicles)
BEHR Paint (Tin Foil)
BEHR Paint (White)
Drywall Primer

Tiling

Ceramic Tile Adhesive
Grout
Float
Sponge
Tile Saw

Trim & Woodwork

Base Moulding
Crown Moulding
Door & Window Moulding
Barnwood Boards
Brad Nailer

The Steps:

1. When we got started in the basement, we finished hanging drywall and then taped and mudded the walls.

2. After waiting a few days for the joint compound to dry, I came back in and final sanded the joints. I made sure the seams and the walls were all perfectly straight.

3. Once the walls were done, we finished tiling the floor and grouting.

4. Next, my dad and I installed doors and doorways to separate the laundry room and storage room from the living space.

5. Next, I prepped for painting by first priming the drywall. After the primer dried, I then painted the walls with two coats of paint.

6. After painting, I decided to turn the boring closet doors into an accent wall using the same barnwood boards I used in my parents’ old laundry room.

7. Once the bulk of the basement was done, it was time for the ceiling. We did not want to install a traditional drop ceiling because we don’t care for the look. So, we opted for Armstrong’s Woodhaven Ceiling Panels in painted white instead!

The boards were a tongue system that interlocked on the ceiling (just like installing a floor on the ceiling joists).

Installation of this product was super simple! We used the Easy Up Track System to install the tiles by drilling the tracks directly into the ceiling joists at about 18″ apart. We also checked for level to make sure that everything was flush.

Next, we started installing the ceiling panels! I cut the tongue-side off of the first board and screwed it into the tracks, leaving about an inch of room between the first board and the parallel wall. We also left about ¾” of space between each board and the adjacent wall.

We then continued to install the boards by sliding the tongue of one board into the groove of the other.

We also helped secure each board to the tracks using clips.

Whenever we needed to trim a board, I used my miter saw (or my jig saw, if the board needed to go around a light).

8. Once the ceiling was installed, it was time to add trim to the baseboards, doors, and crown moulding.

9. I then caulked and painted all of the trim in the room.

10. Next, I added the finishing touches!

It is mind blowing how different this space looks!

It’s also crazy how bright and spacious adding a ceiling to a dark basement can be. I’m so excited about it (and so are my parents)!

Want to save this project for later? Make sure to Pin It!

There are still a few rooms in this basement that need some love, and I am so excited to get started on those renovations as well. But, until then… happy DIY’ing!